For Gallery Emails,
Show Announcements,
and New Works.

Mark McKenna is one of the top emerging artists in the West today.  At just 39 years old, Mark has achieved some major accomplishments, including being in Southwest Art magazine’s prestigious “21 under 31” list of the best young artists in the country for 2014, and having had a painting acquired by the Brinton Museum for their permanent collection in 2016 .  Mark was born in Logan, UT in 1984 and has lived in the West all of his life. His work is inspired by

Mark McKenna is one of the top emerging artists in the West today.  At just 39 years old, Mark has achieved some major accomplishments, including being in Southwest Art magazine’s prestigious “21 under 31” list of the best young artists in the country for 2014, and having had a painting acquired by the Brinton Museum for their permanent collection in 2016 . 

Mark was born in Logan, UT in 1984 and has lived in the West all of his life. His work is inspired by what he loves, the beauty of the West. He grew up hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, and sightseeing, and has personally experienced much of what the West has to offer.

Art has been a part of Mark’s life from very early on, but he started to show real promise as early as 9th grade when he began receiving commissions for his pencil portraits. After high school he studied art at Brigham Young University - Idaho, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Art in Illustration as well as a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. Mark pursued illustration for a few years and worked with several publishing houses across the United States.

When he was hired to teach art at Cody (WY) High School in 2011, he set aside illustrating and returned to oils. Since that time, Mark’s growth has been tremendous as he has been fortunate to study under some great artists. Subsequently, he has spent hundreds of hours at the easel practicing and implementing the techniques and skills gained throughout his education. 

Mark has been personally tutored by accomplished artists like Dan Burr, Leon Parson, Gerald Griffin, Jim Wilcox, and Greg Beecham. Other artists who inspire him are Clyde Aspevig, Mian Situ, Z.S. Liang, Bob Kuhn, and Carl Rungius.

Mark has had his work included in major museum shows across the United States & Canada, including the Buffalo Bill Art Show (Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, WY) and The Russell Art Show (C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, MT). 

Artist’s Statement

The greatest goal with my art is to inspire goodness and beauty in the lives of my audience. The focus of my work is to represent, in my own way, the natural world, that which I believe is directly connected with the Source of all true beauty.

I love bold and deliberate brushstrokes, and I am fascinated by the happenstance miracles that can occur with a palette knife. As I am evolving as an artist, I'm continuously moving away from photo-realism and minuscule detail, into allowing the paint to speak for itself, enabling it to be what it is. I don't need to paint every hair, blade of grass, or leaf; each element is only suggested by textural shapes of color and value rather than being clearly defined and photographically reproduced. As I paint I am tireless to ensure that my paintings feel fresh and not over-worked. As I paint more and more animals, this becomes particularly challenging because I have to be true to the anatomy and form of the subject. So, every mark is calculated and carefully placed - just enough to communicate what is necessary.

I honestly believe that there are several lifetimes of learning to be had within the versatilities of oil paint and the exploration of color. I'm thrilled that I may have several decades ahead of me to be taught by this incredible medium.

Shows & Awards

2017 - The Russell – Quick Draw event - received the highest price of the event

2017 – The Brinton Museum – Small Works Exhibition – Big Horn, WY

2017 - Out West Art Show & Sale - Great Falls, MT

2016 - The Russell - C.M. Russell Museum Live Auction - Great Falls, MT

2016 - The Russell - C.M. Russell Museum - Great Falls, MT

2016 - Out West Art Show & Sale - Great Falls, MT

2016 - National Museum of Wildlife Art's 4th Annual Plein Air Fest, Jackson, WY

2016 - Brinton Museum - Small Works Show – Big Horn, WY

2016 – Brinton Museum – “Dimensions of Nature” – Two-Man Show

2015 - The Russell - C.M. Russell Museum - Great Falls, MT

2015 - The Heart of the West Show (Western Masters) - Coeur d'Alene, ID

2015 - Out West Art Show & Sale - Great Falls, MT

2015 - One Man Show - Washakie Museum - Worland, WY

2015 - National Museum of Wildlife Art's 4th Annual Plein Air Fest - Jackson, WY

2015 - Calgary Stampede - Artist Studios - Calgary, AB, Canada

2015 - Brinton Museum - Small Works Show - Big Horn, WY

2015 - Art of the Animal Kingdom - Bennington Center for the Arts - Bennington, VT

2015 - 4th Annual Mammoth Quick Draw - Washakie Museum - Worland, WY

2014 - Western Masters Art Show & Sale - Western Heritage Inn - Great Falls, MT

2014 - Southwest Art's “21-Under-31” Young Artists to Watch

2014 - National Museum of Wildlife Art's 3rd Annual Plein Air Fest, Jackson, WY

2014 - Collectors Covey - Miniatures Sale and Auction - Dallas, TX 

2014 - Brinton Museum - Small Works Show – Big Horn, WY

2014 - 3rd Annual Mammoth Quick Draw - Washakie Museum - Worland, WY

2013 - Summerfest - Logan, UT

2013 - Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale - Cody,WY - Gilly Fales Award & Scholarship

2013 - Bradford Brinton Memorial & Museum - About 6 x 6 Show

2013 - Art Fair Jackson Hole - Jackson, WY

2013 - 2nd Annual Mammoth Quick Draw - Washakie Museum - Worland, WY

2012 - Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale - Cody, WY - Gilly Fales Award & Scholarship